Learn about the xx and xy chromosomes, the sex determination system, and other chromosome combinations. Sex chromosome, either of a pair of chromosomes that determine whether an individual is male or female The sex chromosomes of human beings and other mammals are designated by scientists as x and y In humans the sex chromosomes consist of one pair of the total of 23 pairs of chromosomes. The xx/xy system is found in most other mammals, as well as some insects In this system, females have two of the same kind of sex chromosome (xx), while males have two distinct sex chromosomes (xy).
The biological differences between the sexes have long been recognized at the biochemical and cellular levels Genes on the sex chromosomes can be expressed. The x chromosome is larger than y because it carries more instructions The x chromosome has some instructions to make body parts that all people have, and others for body parts that only females have A karyotype is a complete set of chromosomes from an organism or species This is a human male karyotype
Xx and xy chromosomes are only part of the story Discover how sex chromosomes vary naturally and why biological sex isn't always binary Learn about dsds and intersex variations.
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